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March 24, 2006

A Reckoning?

While the GOP still can laugh itself to the bank, what with their control of the Presidency, Congress, Supreme Court, a majority of Governorships... [I hope I'm not depressing you too much...] there exists in Washington and elsewhere a sense that the GOP stranglehold on contemporary politics is in trouble.

Not only do Bush and the GOP Congress have atrocious approval ratings and several major state Governorships likely to tilt back to the Dems (e.g., NY, MA, MD, and even CA)... but the GOP coalition is showing signs of serious fraying. Not only on the administration's indefensible Dubai policy, but... the religious right's loyalty is being tested in several different ways.

Leaders of several major religious right organizations held a news
conference in Washington on March 16 to tell the Republicans that they
had better act on the movement's issues if they want to keep right-wing
evangelicals' loyalty.

At the same time the leaders sent a nuanced message to their
supporters. They suggested that a lack of congressional action was the
cause of discouragement and activist fatigue picked up by their
polling. And they unveiled plans for a Values Voter Summit 2006, to be
held in advance of the elections.

There are signs, however, that the evangelical values voters
who elected George Bush are turning away from the narrow and
ideological issues of the religious right leadership. According to a
stunning article in the Washington Monthly (links below), they
are looking for leaders (perhaps even Democrats) who will address their
social and environmental concerns. They don't like the Bush
administration's corporate agenda, which the religious right leadership
has largely supported.

Leaders of several major religious right organizations held a news
conference in Washington on March 16 to tell the Republicans that they
had better act on the movement's issues if they want to keep right-wing
evangelicals' loyalty.

At the same time the leaders sent a nuanced message to their
supporters. They suggested that a lack of congressional action was the
cause of discouragement and activist fatigue picked up by their
polling. And they unveiled plans for a Values Voter Summit 2006, to be
held in advance of the elections.

There are signs, however, that the evangelical values voters
who elected George Bush are turning away from the narrow and
ideological issues of the religious right leadership. According to a
stunning article in the Washington Monthly (links below), they
are looking for leaders (perhaps even Democrats) who will address their
social and environmental concerns. They don't like the Bush
administration's corporate agenda, which the religious right leadership
has largely supported.

JewsOnFirst was recommending this piece by the always insightful Amy Sullivan.